In the recent issue of the National Tattoo Association newsletter, there's a feature on the "Queen of the Knots," Pat Fish, which includes new Celtic tattoos as well as a really fun and interesting bio. I had to steal a bit from it. Here's Pat in her own words:

When I was a child, I had no ethnic identity, and I yearned for a connection to a bloodline and history. As an orphan I felt so alone, denied my place and race. I'd go to sleep at night praying "God, when I find out who I really am, please can I be Irish?"

When I was finally able to meet my true relatives I was delighted to learn that I am a Pict, a Scot, Clan Campbell on both sides of my heritage. My ancestors the Picts were the famous tattooed warriors of Scotland, known worldwide as mercenaries easily visible in battles with their tattooed faces. It was in an attempt to hold them back in the Highlands that Hadrian's wall was built.

Many histories will say that Europe woke up to tattooing when Captain Cook brought back "tattooed savages" from his explorations, and also his sailors who had been marked on their voyages. But in truth the Picts were written about by Caesar and other ancient historians, who said they were "pricked with diverse marks."

It happened that I met many of my true relatives and learned this heritage at the same time I began tattooing. It seemed a lattice of coincidence, that I was meant to do Celtic tattoos. I took it as my special goal to work to bring the intricate art of the ancient illuminated manuscripts and the Pictish standing stones to life in skin.

Pat will also be tattooing at the 35th Annual (yes, 35 years!!) National Tattoo Association Convention, April 29 - May 4, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, CA. NTA is the oldest tattoo organization in the country. More on them can be found on Facebook as well.